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I have replaced my 2Tb with a new 4TB external drive, how do I install this new drive? I thought that it would just be a matter of unplugging the now full old external drive and plugging in the new one but this doesn't seem to be the case. What must I do?
iMac 27", macOS 10.13
If the issue is a full external disk, not being the system disk that has to be replaced:
connect the new external disk, start Utilities->DiskUtility,
select the new external disk,
select "Partition",
select "GUID Partition Map scheme",
give a Name,
select format "Mac OS Extended (journaled)"
and go.
That is it.
If the issue is a full external disk, not being the system disk that has to be replaced:
connect the new external disk, start Utilities->DiskUtility,
select the new external disk,
select "Partition",
select "GUID Partition Map scheme",
give a Name,
select format "Mac OS Extended (journaled)"
and go.
That is it.
Tell us more about this 4TB drive, is it to be used as an external drive.
Did you buy the drivers a fully self-contained unit in an enclosure with presumably a USB connection to your Mac.
Or did you just buy a 'naked' hard drive, i.e just the drive itself no enclosure, no usb connection.
What make is it, a well known brand. Is this drive only going to be used with macs or will it be hared with Windows
or Linux machines.
Thank you, that seems to have solved the problem. The computer just did not recognise that the new drive was there. Performing the simple steps that you outlined has now placed the drive's icon on the desktop. I use this drive as a back-up to the computer's hard drive.
Thank you for your help.
Peter
I thought that the problem I outlined was solved was solved but this does not seem to be the case. Even though the need drive is shown on the desktop it does not seem to be functioning. When I try to open it there is nothing there. The new 4Tb External drive was described as being suitable for both Windows and Mac OS. It is the same brand as the now full 2TB external drive that I have replaced. The brand is Transcend and it came with the usual USB connection cable. What do I need to do to get the drive up and running. Thank you for any further help you can give.
You could format it again as I said above. Whatever they say on the box, always format it with the mac before use, completely. If you want to have more partitions, make the partitions after the complete format afterwards. At least you can now see it so it is mounted...
Thank you, I have tried going through that formatting process again but as yet with no success. What are the 'partitions' for?
Are the divisions for different groups of documents? I don't actually understand the term.Unfortunately no instructions came with the drive so I just assumed that it was a case of 'plug & play'.
Thanks for your help.
I said "If you want to make partitions...". If you just want to have 1 disk, undivided, is also good, whatever, but first must it be that the disk as a whole is formatted correctly and accessible.
Partitions: you can divide a disk in parts (partitions) for different access: say one partition for general use, one partition for Time Machine, one partition for a clone. The disk then behaves as three different disks; you can even format each partition differently.
Now your problem: you see the disk, so it is "mounted" but you can not access. What if you open DiskUtility and you choose the Partition part, can you do what I said above, that is as it as one partition in total and format it?
my pleasure.
remember next time that disks bought new almost always are formatted for Windows.
I have replaced my 2Tb with a new 4TB external drive, how do I install this new drive?
